Carpe Diem Haiku Kai is the place to be if you like to write and share Japanese poetry forms like haiku, choka and tanka. It’s a warmhearted family of haiku poets created by Chèvrefeuille, a Dutch haiku poet. Japanese poetry is the poetry of nature and it gives an impression of a moment as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water. ++ ALL WORKS PUBLISHED ARE COPYRIGHTED AND THE RIGHTS BELONG TO THE AUTHORS ++ !!! Anonymous comments will be seen as SPAM !!!

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Carpe Diem #820 Lyra (Lyre/Harp)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Welcome at a new episode of our "space odyssey" in which we are making a journey through the stars and are discovering the beauty and mystery of the 88 known constellations. Today our constellation to visit is Lyra (Lyre/Harp). As I was preparing this episode I realized that I am far behind with commenting on all of your wonderful responses. I apologize for that and I hope to catch up a.s.a.p.
And another thing came in mind as I was preparing this episode. Some way or the other I couldn't get lost of the idea that Lyra had something to do with Nero, emperor of Rome, who burned his capital and watched it burn down while playing his Lyre, as is the story or legend of course. So I really was anxious to find out more about this not so well known constellation.

So let us take a closer look at Lyra. Beginning
at the north, Lyra is bordered by Draco, Hercules, Vulpecula, and Cygnus. Lyra
is visible from the northern hemisphere from spring through autumn, and nearly
overhead, in temperate latitudes, during the summer months. From the southern
hemisphere, it is visible low in the northern sky during the winter months.

And instead of the idea I proposed above it's more based on Greek Mythology. Here is the story:

In Greek
mythology, Lyra represents the lyre of Orpheus. Made by Hermes from a tortoise
shell, it was said to be the first lyre ever produced. Orpheus's music was said
to be so great that even inanimate objects such as trees, streams, and rocks
could be charmed. Joining Jason and the Argonauts, his music was able to quell
the voices of the dangerous Sirens, who sang tempting songs to the Argonauts.

At one
point, Orpheus married Eurydice, a nymph. While fleeing from an attack by
Aristaeus, she stepped on a snake that bit her, killing her. To reclaim her,
Orpheus entered the Underworld, where the music from his lyre charmed Hades.
Hades relented and let Orpheus bring Eurydice back, on the condition that he
never once look back until outside. Unfortunately, near the very end, Orpheus
faltered and looked back, causing Eurydice to be left in the Underworld
forever. Orpheus spent the rest of his life strumming his lyre while wandering
aimlessly through the land, rejecting all marriage offers from women.

Vega and
its surrounding stars are also treated as a constellation in other cultures.
The area corresponding to Lyra was seen by the Arabs as a vulture or an eagle
carrying a lyre, either enclosed in its wings, or in its beak. In Wales, Lyra
is known as King Arthur's Harp (Talyn Arthur), and King David's harp. The
Persian Hafiz called it the Lyre of Zurah. It has been called the Manger of the
Infant Saviour, Praesepe Salvatoris. In Australian Aboriginal astronomy, Lyra
is known by the Boorong people in Victoria as the Malleefowl constellation.

mist covers the highlandsthe sound of King Arthur's Harpmystifying the stars

What a wonderful story and what a joy to read and re-read these stories. I was stunned by the staories behind this constellation. A constellation I had never heard of. It inspired me, as you have read in the above published haiku.

I hope Lyra inspires you also. This episode is open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until September 19th at noon (CET). I will try to publish our new episode, a new CD Special, later on. For now ... have fun, be inspired and share the beauty brought to you by your muses ...

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IMPROMPTU VERSE

Sometimes a haiku, tanka or other Japanese poetry form comes in mind just in one eye-blink. Those poems I call Impromptu-verses. Here I will publish these Impromptu-verses. Today's Impromptu verse: (10)

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Publishing Policy

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Carpe Diem is the place to be if you like to write and share haiku (or another Japanese poetry form like e.g. tanka). It's a family of haiku loving poets.Japanese poetry is known as the impression of a short moment, say a heartbeat or an eye-blink, in which nature plays an important role.It's free to participate in Carpe Diem. By participating in Carpe Diem, you agree with the use of your work in the exclusive e-book series of Carpe Diem.Of course your work will be credited as Carpe Diem always does. However all the texts and works at Carpe Diem are copyrighted and the rights belong to the authors.

March 20th 2016

Chèvrefeuille, your host

PS. Of course it is possible that you don't want to have your work published in our exclusive series of CDHK e-books. Please let me know that by sending an e-mail to our e-mail address carpediemhaikukai@gmail.com